The African Development Bank (AfDB) has commended Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s leadership in driving agricultural reforms in Kogi State, positioning the state to benefit from the Bank’s Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme.
This recognition was highlighted during a high-level policy dialogue in Abuja, which focused on boosting access to finance, empowering women and youth, and fostering agribusiness development across Nigeria.
The meeting provided a platform for discussing the role of the private sector and government in advancing agricultural growth and economic inclusion.
Kogi State’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Timothy Ojomah, revealed that Kogi, alongside Ogun State, was one of the select states invited to take part in this initiative. He emphasized that this invitation reflected AfDB’s acknowledgment of the state’s impressive strides in strengthening its agricultural sector under Governor Ododo’s administration.
In a statement issued by the Government House Media Team, Ojomah disclosed that Kogi State has already engaged with AfDB to expedite the state’s participation in the next phase of the SAPZ programme, which is scheduled to launch in 2026. Plans for a virtual meeting are underway to finalize the details and fulfill the remaining requirements for the collaboration.
Ms. Lola Visser, Special Adviser to the AfDB President on Stakeholder Engagement, also praised Kogi’s progress in agriculture, particularly in integrating youth into the sector.
She noted that over 200 young people have benefited from mentorship programs under her initiative. However, she pointed out that access to financial resources remains a critical hurdle for many young agro-entrepreneurs.
Visser stressed that the policy dialogue aimed to address this gap by fostering collaboration with financial institutions to facilitate greater access to credit and support the growth of youth-led agribusinesses across the country.
